The Donald calls to take on our (non)
ranking of Trump National L.A. course

Donald Trump called West Coast Bureau Chief Chris Baldwin to discuss TravelGolf.com's recent ranking of the 10 best golf courses in Southern California. Specifically whether Trump National L.A. deserved to be on the list. "I was reading your story on golf in Southern California ..." Trump began after being patched through by his personal assistant.

In the story, Baldwin wrote: "These are all courses you can play whether Donald Trump returns your phone calls or not. (By the way, the Donald's new Trump National didn't make the cut). It's no doubt the start of great debate, liable to be as cozy warm as most of Southern California."

Right on cue, Trump took us up on the debate. "Everyone's pretty much loved it," he told Baldwin. "Everyone except for you, really."

The billionaire business tycoon/reality TV star then invited Baldwin to come out and experience the course for himself and make judgments off that. TravelGolf.coms Top 10 series are based on experiences of head professionals, travel industry insiders, architects, personal play and - most importantly - the feedback of regular golfers.

"It's not often you get a call saying Donald Trump would like to speak to you and he's suddenly on the line," Baldwin said. "Usually as reporters, we're chasing those kind of figures down, trying to get a call back. They're not seeking you out. But we encourage feedback from all our readers. Whether they're mega rich course owners or average everyday golfers.

"I took the Trump challenge and will let our readers know how it turns out," Baldwin continued. "Trump National L.A. will be getting an honest review like every course we visit. That's all Donald Trump asked for, a look. He was very friendly about the whole thing."

Nowhere else but Spring Training can Major League Baseball be enjoyed in small parks relatively unspoiled by commercialism. Nowhere but in Florida can spring baseball, beaches, theme parks and fishing be combined in a single vacation - with golf. Even if the national pastime isn't your passion, spring is the perfect time of year to check out some of Florida's best courses right down the street from numerous and busy baseball diamonds.

Escena Golf Club is the new course on the block in Palm Springs, Calif. and has a style all its own. While many courses assault you with thir glamour, Escena is more like the girl who doesn't wear too much makeup -- because she doesn't have to. The mimimalistic design should be a boon to golfers who enjoy straight fairways and don't need 30 palm trees per hole to make them feel at home.

Course architect Ron Garl did his part to make the Tradition Golf Club a vibrant member of the Myrtle Beach golf scene. With tough greens and a nicely playable layout, the course has won plaudits for being one of the top courses in the U.S. for women. Still, it has plenty to keep the men happy, as well, and only suffers when compared to the multitudes of other courses in the Grand Strand region.

Silverton Casino Lodge -- a 300-room and suite hotel near the southern end of the Las Vegas Valley -- combines the comfort of an upscale lodge with the casino gaming excitement of Las Vegas. This golf package includes two rounds at Primm Valley, and one at Mountain Falls Golf Club.